Zaleone: Wow. O.O It's been a while, hasn't it?

Sesshomaru: You really are an idiot.

Zaleone: You know, fluff, if you're going to insult somebody, don't repeat yourself.

Sesshomaru: -growls-

Zaleone: O.o; Uh, heh. Oops.

Sesshomaru: Get on with it.

Zaleone: Thanks to everyone and I'm sorry for the wait. Severe case of writer's block.

Read, enjoy and review.

7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7

Recap:

Rin smiled, looking at the shackled youkai walking beside her mount. Her Lord was a kind soul deep down. He deserved someone to make him happy. The idea of trying to get this person acquainted with her Lord was intriguing and she recalled a familiar term Kagome-chan had once taught her. Matchmaker. The girl grinned at the thought. Her master would be happy if it was the last thing she ever did.

7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7

An Unforeseen Complication

Part 3

7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7

Juromaru kept his head lowered, careful to not draw any attention to himself whatsoever. He was confused…no, that was an understatement. The youkai was downright baffled. What use was he to the Inu? Honestly. The reason Naraku had kept him alive, though he shuddered at the thought, didn't hold up with the Taiyoukai.

This…Inu, this Sesshomaru was not cruel; Juromaru could see it in his eyes easily. But neither was he kind. Blue eyes glanced up through violet hair towards the Taiyoukai's back. What was he supposed to think about this? At least around Naraku…he knew his place. Around Sesshomaru, he had no idea. The Taiyoukai had told him of his 'employment' in the Taisho household in the West, but not position. Furthermore, the Inu turned around and placed him trustingly by his ward as a test.

He sighed outwardly. He couldn't understand the Taiyoukai. At all.

Sesshomaru heard the sigh and glanced back over his shoulder; meeting the confused blue he had felt on his back for quite some time. He was deep in thought, that much was obvious, but he was also confused. The Taiyoukai mentally congratulated himself. If the youkai was confused, then he couldn't give him any trouble until Sesshomaru clarified a few more things.

The Taiyoukai stopped and glanced to his ward. "Rin, you are excused."

The girl smiled brightly. "Thank you, my Lord!"

After she had dismounted Ah Uhn, he gave his vassal a glare, sending the toad thing scurrying after the girl.

Juromaru wiped some of his hair from his face, the shackle around his wrist clinking as he did so and gaining him the attention of the Taiyoukai. He flinched slightly from the intense gaze and stepped back, lowering his head. Though a day had passed, the shackles still kept him from healing properly and he was in no condition to challenge his new master in the least.

Sesshomaru observed the silent youkai a moment, the wounds still fresh on the lean body. Uncrossing his arms, he walked up, seeing the tension in the body language of his recent 'possession'. He circled Juromaru a moment before stopping behind him and looking at his largest and likely the most painful of the youkai's injuries. A deep gash that was nearly as wide as half his hand traveled down the youkai's back. Though the wound had stopped bleeding, it was serious and would be infected by the time they reached his castle if left as it was. His eyes narrowed in concentration, as he looked upon it closer, his clawed hand reaching up to touch the slightly shaking shoulder.

Juromaru closed his eyes when he felt the ghost of a touch and had to suppress the urge to flee yet again. He didn't understand…what did the Taiyoukai want?

Sesshomaru's keen gaze was broken from the injury when a tremor went through the youkai and he glanced up only to see Juromaru's eyes closed tightly. Realizing what he was doing, the Taiyoukai took away his hand, saving the reason for exactly why he cared to be analyzed another day.

"Ah Uhn, lie down."

The two-headed dragon gave its master a questioning look but obeyed, pulling Juromaru's wrists together as the dragon did so.

"On your knees."

Juromaru nodded gravely and lowered himself to his knees, waiting and trying to prepare for anything. When he felt the Taiyoukai sit behind him, Juromaru looked back with curiosity in his eyes, though he was ignored as the Inu reached into the saddle of his mount and pulled out a couple bandaging rolls and a water-skin. Deciding to not offend him in the least, Juromaru forced himself to relax and looked straight ahead. Why curse a blessing when you received one?

Sesshomaru worked quickly and silently, years of practice on the battlefield aiding him in his task. He was rather impressed when Juromaru didn't do anything to resist nor did he even flinch when Sesshomaru cleaned the large gash.

He was unprepared when Juromaru suddenly leaned back against him, his hands going directly to the youkai's shoulders to brace the slight fall. One glance quickly told of his unconscious state and the Taiyoukai wasn't surprised. Exhaustion was apparent in his movements and state of mind, frankly he thought it would happen much sooner.

Sesshomaru's clawed hand hesitated before moving some of the lavender hair from the almost angelic face. However, he paused when he noticed his mount giving him odd looks. Growling under his breath, he easily shifted the youkai to lean against the dragon before standing once more.

Somewhere, deep within him…he knew then that he didn't regret saving this youkai with a single look at the peaceful face.

…

He slowly shifted awake, blue eyes opening but not really seeing anything in the dark room. Turning from his side to his back, Juromaru winced at the pressure on his wound but the soft mattress beneath him made the pain fade to a dull ache. 'Where am I?' Wincing, he slowly sat up though his eyes still couldn't focus on anything. The stiffness in his muscles and joints told him that he had been asleep for too long as he did so.

It was obviously nighttime, windows towards the side of the room let moonlight flicker in. The room was huge, though Juromaru, having poor sight in the dark, couldn't really make anything out.

"I see you're awake."

His head snapped to the side and met glowing amber. Fear suddenly rose within him at seeing his new master but he just lowered his head in response to the observation. However obvious it actually was.

Sesshomaru didn't waver his gaze from the youkai as he spoke. "I have removed your shackles under the condition that you behave. If you, in any way at all, threaten anyone within this castle I will return them to you. Understood?"

Realization dawned with memories and Juromaru looked at his bandaged wrists from underneath his hair. They were gone… Relief washed over him as he bowed his head once in understanding. This youkai had already given him something he could look forward to; perhaps the Inu truly wasn't as cruel as Naraku.

"Furthermore," Juromaru looked back to the Taiyoukai who stood and crossed his arms, towering over him. "You are now under my rule and will obey me. When your wounds heal, your training will begin."

Without another word, the Taiyoukai turned on his heel and left the massive room. Juromaru winced slightly as he heard the lock click shut and realized that although he had more freedom, he was still a prisoner here. He sighed slightly and leaned back against the headboard of the bed a moment, gazing down at his bandaged wrists. His hands closed slowly and he relished in the feeling that such a minor act had given him.

"You should eat."

He jumped violently at the voice and turned to a dark corner of the room. Blue eyes narrowed and focused on a younger looking youkai who stood with her head bowed to him. He blinked when she looked up at him and she gave him a warm smile.

"My name is Sakura, sir. Lord Sesshomaru saw fit to assign me to you for your needs."

Juromaru backed up slightly in his bed though the headboard made the movement a bit on the redundant side. His violet hair cascaded around his face as he lowered his own head, knowing that a single wrong move could cost him his life. It may have been a bit over cautious given the Taiyoukai's trust in him so far but the youkai wasn't going to take any chances.

"Sir?" The girl stepped forward. "No offense is to be meant of course, but you really should eat something."

Juromaru glanced up at her a moment before his eyes went to the side and spotted a tray of food on his nightstand. Why were his senses so dull? Disregarding the thought, though it greatly disturbed him, he sat up on his own and managed to hold down the wince as his wounds pulled slightly. Without the shackles around his wrists, his healing was kicking in though with his near starving state, it was taking much longer for his body to heal itself.

Sakura smiled at the youkai. "Perhaps you would like to bathe first?"

She was very pleased when the barest of nods was seen.

The youthful kitsune gestured to a door behind her. "Through that door are your private springs, sir. Lord Sesshomaru wanted to make sure you make good use of them."

Juromaru sighed quietly to himself. He really didn't feel like moving, though the idea of a hot bath was beginning to outweigh that notion very quickly. He turned and put his legs over the side of the bed, barely wincing as his body ached and practically screamed for him not to move. He jumped again when a slim arm wound around his waist and he was suddenly standing. He blinked and looked at the woman for some answer but she only smiled gently at him.

With the aid of the reserved kitsune, he made it to the rather large room where the springs were and he took a seat on the side rocks as Sakura set out a few oils and such for him.

"Lord Sesshomaru has requested that you dress properly from now on." Juromaru lowered his head slightly at the statement. The kitsune placed a simple set of clothes on the side of the spring before standing and bowing. "When you are finished, I shall tend to your wounds, sir."

He watched silently as she walked out, quietly shutting the door behind him. Shaking his head, he silently vowed that he wouldn't understand any of these people he was coming across…though even he had to admit it. He hadn't felt so close to actually being happy in so long that it almost scared him. He liked the feeling.

After removing his clothes, the youkai slipped into the hot spring and breathed in the hot water, pleased when his sense of smell began coming back to him. He wasn't trained well and his abilities were foreign to even himself but he always had a knack of learning quickly and adapting faster then one could blink. It's what had saved him in that fight with that hanyou, Inuyasha. The younger half brother of his new master had been rather slow on the draw with that fang of his but between dodging that wolf and the sword, Juromaru had adapted to the new fighting style quickly and gave both of them a run for their money. In the end, only Kageromaru had perished while he had fled the scene.

Not even a week past, Naraku had captured him again.

He glanced down at his claws a moment. Would he ever be able to taste the thrill of a fight again? He had been created to fight and though he had an intelligent mind, he loved the thrill a battle provided. The adrenaline causing the blood to pump wildly throughout his body, eyes looking towards his opponent for a challenge. In truth, it was the most basic instinct of any youkai. Fight…win or loose, keep fighting.

Sighing slightly to himself, he sunk deeper in the soothing water and closed his eyes in a moment of bliss. His wounds cried out in protest from the hot water at first, though merely seconds later; the tense muscles beneath them began to unwind.

Juromaru sighed. The Taiyoukai was just confusing to him.

Glancing up, he looked at the oils a minute before sitting up in the water and hesitantly taking hold of it. He brought it to his nose and the scent of cinnamon assaulted his senses. Deciding to make use of it, he carefully washed his air and body, ignoring his wounds, before spreading the oil over his skin.

He lounged in the spring a few more moments before remembering that the kitsune was still waiting for him. As quick as he could, he climbed from the spring and dried himself off before slipping the black pants over his thin legs. They were quite big on him and hung on his hips but he didn't complain before slowly walking out of the door, the cool air of the bedroom making him wrap his arms around his torso.

"Better?"

Blue eyes glanced over at the kitsune, now easily seen through the dim candlelight in the room. Juromaru didn't answer and she seemed to accept it just fine.

"Come and sit down, sir. I'll redress your wounds."

The youkai forced his arms down to his sides before walking over and taking a seat on the bed again. The kitsune climbed up behind him and he jumped at the feel of her hands steadily starting to properly clean it. She made no protest on it and merely kept working, re-bandaging the gash. When she was done, she wiped her hands off and prepared to get off the bed.

However, she paused when her eyes caught a glimpse of another wound and she winced in sympathy. Directly above his left hip was a deep gash that looked to already be infected with the lack of treatment. Sighing, she rung out the cloth she used to clean his other wound and lightly started to clean it.

Juromaru's eyes widened dramatically at the light touch on his lower side and his mind blanked.

Crimson seeped into his eyes before he growled deeply and sent his claws flying, backhanding the kitsune roughly. She cried out in surprise and pain as his claws slashed through her throat and she landed on the ground harshly. He glared at her prone body, watching in a morbid fascination as she began clutching her throat to stop the bleeding, looking at him with confused eyes.

A door slammed down the hall and Juromaru blinked, shaking his head before the door to his room was unlocked and thrown open. His new master surveyed the situation quickly before glaring at him with enough malice that made Juromaru whimper and back up against the headboard.

Sesshomaru's own golden orbs fought to remain their normal color, crimson leaking into his irises as he glared at his new possession. "Do. Not. Move," each word was punctuated with a threat that Juromaru didn't even want to know.

Quickly, the youkai nodded and watched as the Taiyoukai quickly scooped the young kitsune into his arms and left the room, leaving the door wide open. Juromaru breathed deeply, hearing the fading footsteps of the Inu. His heartbeat picked up as he focused on the door and before he knew it, he was up and running in the opposite direction from the Taiyoukai. Juromaru's hair whipped around him as he ran without pause, corridors and stairways passing him in the blink of an eye. He couldn't stop; he knew the Inu would already know of his escape attempt.

Juromaru leapt down a flight of stairs and continued on throughout the castle. Minutes passed and he still didn't slow down.

He took a corner and was only aware of two things. A sudden flash of white was in front of him and an intense pain in his chest registered as he came to a sudden stop. Blue eyes lowered and he numbly registered the arm that disappeared into his stomach before looking back up, his vision starting to blur and catching deep crimson eyes.

A growl issued before the limb was pulled out and Juromaru coughed, tasting blood in his mouth before going to his knees and lowering his head. The pain faded away as did his thoughts before he felt himself fall to the floor. With a final look to the black boots now stained with his blood, he closed his eyes and succumbed to the pain.

7. 7. 7. 7. 7. 7

End of Part 3

Zaleone: -dodges everything thrown- Don't think I wanna kill Juromaru! Honestly, he's just too tempting to hurt.

Juromaru: O.O

Sesshomaru: O.O You made me do it?

Zaleone: Heh, heh. Nice fluffy.

Sesshomaru: -brandishes Tokijin- Write the next chapter or you shall die, woman.

Zaleone: Eeep! -runs-

Many thanks to the following:

WANTED: As you all may or may not know, I write both heterosexual and yaoi (gay basically) fictions and I would like a beta with an open mind on most aspects that could help me and be like a friend that could get back to me within three days of my updates. I need it for this story as well as all my others. I happen to like writing and am thankful if someone is interested in this. My email address is offered in my profile and if you are interested, feel free to email me.